AI also stands for Accessibility and Inclusion #withSchoolAI

This is the fourth or fifth version of this blog post I have written, erased, and started over again. I do not know why this such a pain for me to write, but it is a struggle. One of the things I am doing is writing this without any tools to help me fix anything. That means I will have to go over all of this and proofread and catch anything on my own. For those new to The Nerdy Teacher, I am a dyslexic learner and struggle with processing and communication ideas at times. My typing often struggles to keep up with my thinking. It can be very frustrating. I wanted to feel this frustration though. I wish more educators out there would do this. 

How quickly we forget what it was like before spellcheck was a standard part of our writing lives. Is it cheating to use a spellchecker? How much time would you be spending on extra proofreading of your assignments, lesson plans, worksheets, etc.? Think about that for a second. Spellcheck makes writing more accessible and inclusive for everyone. You do not need an IEP or 504 plan to benefit from these assistive technology. However, there are teachers out there that want to block AI in their classroom. That AI has a double meaning thought. Artificial Intelligence and Accessibility and Inclusion. Blocking the first one, blocks the other as well. 

I have been on both sides of the fence now that I work in edtech. I spent years looking for ways to make learning more accessible and used a wide variety of tools over the years. One of the last ones I did use was SchoolAI. I saw how I could create Spaces that would allow my students to get the support when they needed it, how they needed it. That is what is key here. I did not create a tool that just helped out a couple of students. I created a Space that was able to help all of the students when they needed the help. They might not think they need the support, but it was there for them when they needed it. I made design lessons more accessible and inclusive by giving students access to Spaces that could help them form their ideas and process the approach they were going to take to accomplish the assignment. New technology can be scary, but that does not mean everything scary should be blocked. I thought we had dealt with this approach over a decade ago with YouTube. 

Working on the SchoolAI side now for over a year, I have been so lucky to work with a team that is dedicated to making sure our platform supports all learners. Not just neurodivergent students AND educators, but ANYONE that needs a little extra help. That is what is so important to think about when it comes to exploring what accessibility and inclusion looks like in your classroom, school, or district. When decisions are being made, are the most vulnerable students be considered? When we remove access to tools that some learners depend on, who is benefitting? 

There is so much nuance to the discussion of using AI in the classroom. AI is becoming backed into so many different tools that any district will be hard pressed to find an edtech tool that does not have an AI feature. I'm not even suggesting that schools dive in without due diligence. I want people to think about all learners when they do the the due diligence. 

I am lucky to be at a company that has made access and inclusion an important part of what we do to help teachers make school awesome every day for every learner. I'd love to hear how others are exploring the new trends in edtech and how access and inclusion is part of the conversation. 

SchoolAI x Breakout EDU For The Win

 I am super excited to share this really cool collaboration between SchoolAI and Breakout EDU. 

January 26 - 30 is Data Privacy Week. SchoolAI and Breakout EDU take data privacy very seriously and thought it would be fun to team-up and create something to help students understand the importance of keeping their data safer and secure. Dot and Witty have come together to create an amazing game and reflection Space for all teacher to use with their classroom. 

Witty and Dot: Digital Detectives is a free digital privacy game from Breakout EDU with an added reflection activity from SchoolAI. Students become digital detectives, solving puzzles about phishing scams, password safety, and protecting personal information.

How it works:

1. Play the free Breakout EDU game with your class

Play The Game

2. Debrief with Dot in a SchoolAI Space

Start The Space

P.S. Free accounts required at both Breakout EDU and SchoolAI.

You can find more information on the SchoolAI landing page. 

I think this is a fun way to explore data privacy and have students reflect using a SchoolAI Space so a teacher can see how the students understood the material covered in the game. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Hugs and High Fives, 

Nick

2 Awesome Ways #SchoolAI Supports Accessibility #Accessibility #EdChat

As a person with ADHD and Dyslexia, among other things, accessibility is very important to me. Decding to leave the classroom is not an easy decision because I know that my neurodivergence might not thrive outside of the classroom. Having been with SchoolAI for 5 months now, I have seen how much they, not only value neurodivergence, but how much we stress accessibility. I am excited to showcase two things that can help make learning more accessible for students right now. 

1. Voice to Text

It can be tough for younger students to type all of their thoughts accurately and efficiently, so it is important to support them and create tools that make it easier to share their thoughts and ideas. Voice to Text is a feature that now allows them to press and hold the space bar to record their thoughts. They can pause and resume by simply lifting up and back down again. I also loves this for users that process their thoughts at different speeds. By creating an easier way to engage with Text to Speech, users can now share their thoughts without the worry of spelling and how long it might take them to type due to dexterity issues. This can help lower anxiety issues which will allow the user to think more clearly and engage more completely. 

2. EasyRead Mode

Being dyslexic and an internet user means that I often spend too much time rereading things because the fonts are not designed to support more processing. There are a multitude of fonts, but most of them do not support readers with dyslexia. To help with this issue for users, SchoolAI built EasyReader Mode. A students can simply turn it on at the top and the text will adjust and become a dyslexic friendly font. I have to say, this makes my brain so happy. Not just because I was on the Hackathon team that worked on this idea during HQ Week, but because it is easier for me to read. It is estimated that anywhere between 6% and 17% students have some for of dyslexia. Many of those students go undiagnosed. That means there are thousands of students out there that simply feel dumb because school is so tough for them. Little things like this can help make a difference for diagnosed and undiagnosed students. 

These are just two ways that SchoolAI is more accessible to students. Teachers can also use our Tools to level and translate texts to make them more accessible to their students. 20 years ago, the act of trying to make learning more accessible to students in the classroom was a very long and difficult process. Today, there is really no excuse not to make an effort to use a wide variety of edtech tools to support students who are looking for just a little help so they can engage in class. 

Stay tuned for more updates on features and things that can make learning more accessible to all students. 

Hugs and High Fives, 

Nick